Our Children’s Books Catalog
Assalamu aleikum,
Please check out our books on Amazon and on our website.
Thank you,
A Ducktrinor Mom
Ducktrinors Read
Ramadan’s Coming! — A Review
Assalamu aleikum everyone! Long time.
Author: Rabia Bashir
Illustrator: Laila Ramadhani
Summary:
Are you looking for Ramadan books for toddlers or older children?
Ramadan’s Coming is a beautifully illustrated rhyming book showing multi-cultural families from around the world as they:
~ prepare for Ramadan
~ take part in the blessed month
~ and celebrate Eid!
Children will learn about the key aspects of Ramadan:
~ The Qur’an was first revealed in Ramadan
~ The moon sighting
~ What fasting is and how it benefits
~ Suhoor (pre-dawn meal)
~ Ifthar (breaking of the fast)
~ Taraweeh prayers
~ Not over-eating at ifthar!
~ Doing good deeds and rewards being multiplied
~ Giving Zakat
~ I’tikaf
~ Moon sighting before Eid
~ Festivities of preparing for Eid
~ Eid Salah
~ Gratitude and spending time with family
Age Range: 3 & Up
Review: Ramadan’s Coming! has beautiful illustrations and meaningful texts to help teach about Ramadan to little ones. Though we didn’t read it as a songbook, we enjoyed the messages and the tools it provides about the Blessed Month. We definitely recommend Ramadan’s Coming! Find it below on Amazon:
Rating: 4/5
Thank you for reading,
~ A Ducktrinor Mom ~
The Blessed Hajj — A Review
Assalamu aleikum,
Author: Aisha Anastasis Izgagina
Illustrator: Qamer Khatri
Summary: “The Blessed Hajj” is a book that enables Muslim children to gain, love and have knowledge about one of the beautiful pillars of Islam; Hajj. It is written in a poetic form which is easy to read and understand for children. Finally, “The Blessed Hajj” brings the pilgrimage journey to Muslim children’s homes.
Age Range: 3 – 9
Review: The Blessed Hajj is a rhythmic book that is easy to remember for young and growing minds. When Muslim children are young, it’s very challenging to break down the nuts and bolts of Islam. So, a book like this down achieves this purpose without being too distracting and overwhelming. Also, if you have child who is a little behind compared to his or her peers, a simple book like this explains a major pillar of our faith easily. Check the paperback on Amazon below.
Rating: 4/5
Thank you for reading,
~ A Ducktrinor Mom ~
Superheroes of Islam: Abu Bakr As-Siddiq رضي الله عنه — A Review
Assalamu aleikum!
Author: Ammar Kidwai
Illustrator: Qamer Khatri
Summary: “Superheroes of Islam” is a book series that portrays the lives of past Muslim Heroes through the lenses of a young author. The book series intends to teach and give children a sense of pride in Islamic Heritage and use the lives of the Rightly Guided Leaders and Sahabas as an example of true heroes to follow. The first book of the series reveals a little bit about the life of the first Khalifa, and the lessons we should learn from his life.
Age Range: 3 – 9
Review: Superheroes of Islam Book 1 is a picture book account of a young Muslim author about the righteous sahaba Abu Bakr As-Siddiq رضي الله عنه.
The book is faceless and uses simple symbolism to get to the point. In addition, using rhetorical questions, the author attempts to engage his audience in his short storytelling account of this un-forgetful character. Masha’Allah.
Superheroes of Islam Book 1 ends with some coloring pages to try as an activity with the young ones. My son and I actually colored these last tidbits after we read it.
Above all, Superheroes of Islam: Abu Bakr As-Siddiq رضي الله عنه is worth adding to your Muslim homeschooling book list.
Kuddos to this young author for realizing and knowing who the real heroes are for the benefit of this life and the next. May Allah continue to bless and support his efforts, Allahumma aameen.
Sneak peak…
Superheroes of Islam: Abu Bakr As-Siddiq رضي الله عنه launches November 15th, 2020 on social media. Join us!
Find it on Amazon by clicking on the link below.
Rating: 4/5
Thank you for reading,
~ A Ducktrinor Mom ~
Mel: And His Trouble With One Thousand Shoes — A Review
Assalamu aleikum!
Summary: “And do not walk on the earth proudly…” Quran 17 : 37
Mel the millipede collected one thousand shoes. They were his prized jewels. He wore them and walked around with his head held high. He looked proud and arrogant as he passed by. The other bugs warned him of his obsession. Snail told him that humbleness is more important than fashion. When Mel was in trouble trying to save his shoes from a flood, Moth flew to his rescue and they became buds. Mel learned to appreciate friends more than elegance. And that being grateful is better than arrogance.
Author: Somayeh Zomorodi was born in Iran and spent most of her childhood in her grandfather’s garden among colorful flowers and trees. Adventure games and the world of imagination gave her a happy childhood. She was later inspired by that and wanted to share this childish pleasure to not only her lovely three children but all the children of the world. She has a bachelor`s degree in English literature and a master’s degree in Translation studies and is teaching and doing research in the field of children’s literature. She wishes for all children to have happy and safe childhoods. She dreams to create big smiles on their faces and wisdom through her stories and poems.
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Illustrator: N.Broomand
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Review: It’s so easy for confidence to spill into arrogance. As we all know, arrogance only belongs to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala. So, to this end, Mel: And His Trouble With One Thousand Shoes is to help us remember golden Islamic maxims and about remaining humble in the face of having a lot of blessings for our success is only by Allah. While we may want others to be happy for us at times when we reach certain milestones, that can also border on showing off.
Overall, Mel: And His Trouble With One Thousand Shoes is a colorful tale that is wonderfully illustrated with a great lesson. Adults and children can all learn from this tale as accumulating unnecessary worldly gains can weigh a person down.
Sneak peak…
Rating: 5/5
Thank you for reading,
~ A Ducktrinor Mom ~
Four New Children’s Books Releases by Prolance
Assalamu aleikum!
1. My First Surahs
Author: Hajar Ashmawey currently resides in Dallas, Texas with her family. She is a full time wife, mother, and mental health professional. Hajar earned her
Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health/Counseling from Oakland University in Michigan. She enjoys spending time with her family and working with children.
Illustrator: Jenny Reynish is an artist and illustrator working mainly in children’s publishing and has created a wide variety of illustrations for US and UK publishers. Her individual and decorative style was sparked by a Persian rug from Isfahan, inherited from her aunt. She loves the colors and decorative patterns of the Middle East and India, and finds much inspiration from living by the sea. She works in watercolor, oil, and linoprint. www.magiccarpetpics.co.uk
Summary: Enjoy reading seven surahs of the Quran, written against seven beautiful pieces of art. Contemplate each surah as you recite it to your little ones while enjoying the artistic backgrounds. Plus! Each surah includes a lesson to implement into everyday life.
Thoughts: The book offers simplistic lessons to take away from seven short surahs of the Quran. It’s also imperative that as parents we supplement these concise summaries with in-depth tafsirs of these surahs. For instance, al Fatiha is not only about only worshiping the one true God or seeking His help alone, it’s also about not following in the steps of those who were given books before us. In short, al Fatiha is also about correct guidance seeking.
Sneak peak inside the book…
Rating: 4/5
2. Salaam World
Author: Samia Khan is a Muslim American writer and high school English teacher. She is the author of The Shapes of Eid, According to Me. Samia was first inspired to write by her experience of becoming a mother, and continues to turn to her children for creativity. She currently resides in the suburbs of Chicago. You can learn more about Samia by connecting with her www.instagram.com/booksbysamiakhan.
Illustrator: Teresa Abboud is a Georgia-based illustrator and a 2D animator. She graduated from the Académie Libanaise des Beaux Arts. She grew up in Lebanon in an artistic environment, in an atmosphere of integrity and disorder, war and liberty. Teresa’s art reflects her inner feelings. Her aesthetic choices come directly from this atmosphere that marked her childhood. Teresa wants to tell stories, share feelings, express ideas, and transmit emotions through her art.
www.teresaafternoon.com
Summary: A greeting is an exchange between people that is perhaps one of the earliest forms of communication learned by children. This rhyming children’s book about the Arabic salutation of Salaam is a fun introduction to the concept of peace, for even the youngest of readers. A book that fosters diversity and inclusiveness!
Thoughts: Very cute and rhyming.
Rating: 4/5
3. Assmaa A. Andulsi: The Girl Who is Like No Other
Assmaa A. Andulsi: The Girl Who is Like No Other is about a modern Muslim American girl. Assmaa thinks she should be more famous than Snow White, Princess Aurora or Cinderella. Everywhere she goes, she carries two sets of herself. One writes in English from left to right while the other writes in Arabic from right to left. One goes to public school during the week, and the other attends Sunday school at the mosque. One admires George Washington and Martin Luther King while the other loves the Prophet Mohamed. These two identities make her different, special, and a girl who is like no other. Sometimes she struggles to understand others. When she yells at her third-grade teacher for not fasting during Ramadan, super-duper trouble follows. Her mother explains that since her teacher is Christian, she doesn’t fast. Since Assmaa didn’t know how other people live and believe, others probably don’t know much about how her family lives and believes. She sets up a food drive to teach her fellow students about an important principle called zakat, the act of giving. The story briefly introduces readers to all five pillars of Islam: salat, or prayer; sawm, or fasting; zakat, charitable giving; hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca; and shahada, the declaration of faith.
Thoughts: This is a chapter book. Assmaa is a very enthusiastic young North-African American but more precisely a Tunisian-American who means well. The book can feel a bit like info-dump at times but it’s also a love letter to Assmaa from her father.
Rating: 3.5/5
4. Our Colorful World
The Author & Illustrator: Golnar Servatian is an award-winning Iranian children’s book and magazine freelance illustrator. She has been illustrating for kids since 2006 and won awards in international level. Publishing more than 50 books. She also enjoys painting and writing stories and poems. She has a Bachelors in Graphic Design and a Masters in Fine Arts. Visit www.instagram.com/golnarservatian and www.golnarservatian.com .
Thoughts: Colorful and rhythmic, the book depicts the un-matchable creations of al Khaliq.
Rating: 4/5
Thank you for reading,
~ A Ducktrinor Mom ~
A Review of Some Picture Books About the Quran
Assalamu aleikum!
1. My First Quran Book & Coloring Book by Shereen Sharief
Summary: Often children memorise Surah after Surah of the Quran without knowing even it’s simple meanings and we as parents find it difficult to explain it to them. With the help of this picture book your children will be able to read Juz Amma in Arabic and instantly know the simple meaning of the verses through engaging illustrations. It will help your children visualise the simple meanings of the verses which will later make the Tafsir and the explanations of the verses easier for them to grasp. This bright and colourful book will also help make memorising the Quran much more fun and enjoyable for them.
Review: The picture book is aimed at children 7+. The illustrations are descriptive and show no faces. The verses of Juz Amma from the Holy Quran are always written in Arabic and in English. At times, the tafsir of some of the surahs are also included. My son enjoyed flipping through the pages of the picture book and then coloring the supporting and accompanying coloring book. There are a lot of information in the picture book, and I’m tempted to say that it’s almost inclusive about the details one needs to know about Juz Amma. To go back to my little reader, I had to teach him the adab and fiqh required in our madhab while handling these two books as these rules are not universal and differ within the ummah. Anyway, alhamdullilah, my son is a good listener and he complied. Masha’Allah. Overall, we recommend these two books to Muslim parents.
Rating : 5/5
2. My First Book about the Qur’an by Sara Khan
Summary: Inside this board book, toddlers and young children will find out about the Qur’an’s beautiful teachings: to care for all creation; to respect the books of God; to be good to one another; and to believe in Allah, the Creator. Stunning illustrations, full of color, bring the pages to life and the carefully written text is simple, easy to understand, and suitable to be read aloud. It also features some facts about the Qur’an and common questions children might ask, such as: what does the word “Qur’an” actually mean?
Review: This is a lesser concentrated version of the Quran book mentioned above dealing Juz Amma. Khan’s book summarizes the golden maxims of the whole Quran with short paragraphs or sentences for younger readers instead. Some of the illustrations might raise a few eyebrows because of their execution but overall, it’s a good illustrated read.
Rating : 4/5
You can find all three of them on Amazon.
Just click on the hyperlinked titles to be redirected insha’Allah.
Thank you for reading,
~ A Ducktrinor Mom ~
The Test — A Review
Bismillah,
Author : Ahmad Philips is an author, illustrator, and animator. Raised in Michigan, he graduated in animation and worked as a video editor, illustrator, animator, and game designer. He’s traveled to different countries such as Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Malaysia, before coming back to his home town East Lansing, Michigan, where he currently lives with his wife and two kids. Outside of writing and drawing, Ahmad enjoys playing basketball, and spending time with his family.
Summary: Hani Muslim, a 7 year old Muslim boy, fails a quiz that he forgot to study for. His sister Huda, and his father give him words of advice. Hani realizes he should try his best in everything he does, in order to please his Lord (Allah). If he does this, then he can never fail, because deeds are based on intentions and correct actions. Now Hani is determined to do well on the next test, but things don’t go according to plan!
If you’re looking for a children’s Islamic book to add to your bookshelf, then look no further! The Test is sure to give a dramatic story while also promoting good Islamic morals and good Islamic conduct.
Review: In this series, Hani is back again with a new fun adventure. He knows his weakness; being an absent-minded person. Therefore, he works his life around that weakness to come up on top. We should all know all weaknesses in order to challenge them and succeed in anything we plan on doing.
The illustrations were also way better than the first graphic novel that the author drew that I also had the chance to review. Bravo to the author on improving his craft.
Overall, this a good YA book with a timeless lesson.
Rating: 5/5
Info to connect with the author:
Website : https://themuslimscomic.com/
Instagram : @philz.draws
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/TheMuslimsSeries
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AUG 13, 2017
Bismillah,
The Muslims is a new Muslim graphic novel aimed at young Muslim children.
Author : Ahmad Philips is an author, illustrator, and animator. Raised in Michigan, he graduated in animation and worked as a video editor, illustrator, animator, and game designer. He’s traveled to different countries such as Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Malaysia, before coming back to his home town East Lansing, Michigan, where he currently lives with his wife and two kids. Outside of writing and drawing, Ahmad enjoys playing basketball, and spending time with his family.
Summary: The Muslims is about 2 kids, Hani and Huda, and the lessons they learn through everyday life. Each chapter tackles different moral issues such as stealing, sharing, being grateful and much more. Join Hani and Huda as they learn different aspects of Islam through their own life experiences.
Thoughts: For someone who grew up reading Manga graphic novels like Naruto, I appreciated this effort by Author Ahmad Phillips to cater to a young Muslim audience.
The book has 5 illustrated chapters which deal with different situations.
Chapter 1 is titled ‘Life is a Test’. Chapter 2 is ‘Rainy Day’. Chapter 3 is named ‘Being Truthful’. Chapter 4 ‘Having Fun’ and finally Chapter 5 deals with ‘Arrogance’. Chapter 1, 2, and 5 mainly revolve around Hani, the male character. On the other hand, Chapter 3 and 4 are mainly about his sister Huda.
In chapter 2, I wished there was a flashback or an explanation on how the children were taught the duas about rain in the first place.
Chapter 5 ends with a cliffhanger, and I’m curious to see how the ending scene plays out. Also, I don’t know why the teacher had to be so large… That said, it made me giggle a bit.
Having said all these above, the art of the book is a bit simplistic in my opinion but the graphic novel has good maxims we can use to teach Muslim children. In other words, I feel like The Muslims needs more details in the background of certain illustrations or more realistic facial expressions throughout and consistently the comic. Not to be harsh, the illustrations are at a sketch level now and need to be more fleshed out to achieve the level of mainstream comics’ quality insha’Allah. Of course, that also requires capital that self-publishers don’t always have.
Hoping this review is beneficial to the author and wishing him all the best with his art, ameen.
You can get your copy on Amazon here. And watch a video about the characters of the comic here on YouTube.
Jazakh’Allah khair for reading,
Papatya*
P.S. Info to connect with the author
Website : https://themuslimscomic.com/
Instagram : @philz.draws
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/TheMuslimsSeries
Did Musa St-St-Stutter Too? — A Review
About the Book : Afraid of how his class will react to his stutter, Ibrahimi comes up with a plan to stay home from school, but his mother has something else in mind. After she reminds him that the beloved Prophet Musa saved a nation while speaking uniquely too, will Ibrahimi have the courage to face his fear?
Author : Keila Kaci
Illustrator : Andrea Lucci
Publisher: Prolance
Review and thoughts : This book teaches young believers a very powerful dua when they have to address an audience and their nerves get the best of them. It also teaches about a very important Muslim Prophet; Prophet Musa aleihi salam as he implored Allah in Surah Taha. After Little Ibrahimi’s Mommy tells him of this Nabi, Ibrahimi draws strength and resilience to face his ordeal; presenting his speech in front of his classmates fiercely. In all, Did Musa ST-St-Stutter encourages Muslim children to rely on dua in the face of any hardship. Good job, masha’Allah.
I received a free copy for my honest review.
Find it on the publisher’s site here or on Amazon here.
Rating : 4/5
Thank you for reading,
~ A Ducktrinor Mom ~
The Most Precious Gift — A Review
Summary : Join Ziyad as he learns ten benefits from the most precious gift from God…prayer. While all the animals in the jungle are busy preparing for a party, Ziyad asks each one of them what prayer does for them. They mention calmness, togetherness, and hope just to name a few. Before the party starts, Ziyad and his friends and family gather for Maghreb prayer, reminding each one that even though their party awaits, it is so important to reap the benefits of their daily prayers.
Author : Yasmine Abuzeid
Illustrator : Melani Putri
Publisher: Prolance
Review and thoughts : The Most Precious Gift is a very creative children’s book that introduces salat and dhikr to Muslim children. It also teaches them that prayer is the most precious gift from Allah that they need to value because it will always be a source of comfort, a shield, and a safe haven for them. See slides below for more details.
Finally, it also gives them the name of the benefits of prayer in Arabic in the illustrations as well. For instance, silah for connection and saeda for happiness. That is very smart masha’Allah.
Find it on the publisher’s site here or on Amazon here.
Rating : 4/5
Thank you for reading,
~ A Ducktrinor Mom ~
A Ducktrinor Mom 